Dishwasher device causing an aperiodical water flow

ABSTRACT

A device adapted for use in a dishwasher and which device causes an intermittent water flow from one or more spray arms of the device. The intermittent water flow is caused by a special form of a detergent container placed inside of the sprinkling device and a good washing result is achieved by an arrangement by which the sprinkling device may be tilted during its rotation.

United States Patent Nord [4 1 July 25, 1972 [54] DISHWASHER DEVICE CAUSING AN 2,078,670 4 1937 Kirby ..134/93 APERIODICAL WATER FLOW Primary Examiner-M. Cary Nelson [72] Inventor: Sven Gustaf Nord, 51016 Skene, Sweden Assismm EXamine, Roben Miller 22 il Oct 14 I969 Attorney-Munson & Fiddler [2]] Appl. No.2 866,340 [57] ABSTRACT A device adapted for use in a dishwasher and which device [52] U.S.Cl ..137/268, 134/93, 239/226, au e an intermittent water flow from one or more spray l 7/ 2 -47 arms of the device. The intermittent water flow is caused by a [51] lnt.Cl ..Fl6k 11/07 special form of a detergent container placed inside of the [58] Field of Search 1 37/268, 624.14, 625.47; sprinkling device and a good washing result is achieved by an 239/226; 134/93, I78, 58 D arrangement by which the sprinkling device may he tilted during its rotation. [56] References Cited 5 Claims, 4 Drawlng figures UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,143,165 1/1939 Olson ..239/226 UX L 35 26 21 a e 2 7 Patented July 25, 1972 SVEN GUSTF NORD IN VEN TOR.

BY ERIC Y. flUNSON A TTORNE' Y DISHWASHER DEVICE CAUSING AN APERIODICAL WATER FLOW BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are a number of different devices constructed to secure an effective sprinkling system in the dishwasher. It is previously known to attach special value devices to each spray arm and to actuate each valve device in a predetermined manner.

The present invention has for its object to provide a device wherein the valve body in the valve device is constructed as a detergent container. The shape of the valve body is such that it has at least some part of its surface in the shape of a cylinder which surface contacts with the cylindrical inside wall surface of the valve housing. By such an arrangement a very compact construction is achieved from parts which are usually spaceconsuming in a dishwasher. The present invention provides means permitting the usage of the same power source for the drive of the spray arms as is used to drive the valve body.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawing wherein an illustrative embodiment of the invention is disclosed and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective vew of the valve body;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the valve housing showing the valve body arranged inside of the same;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the valve housing and how it cooperates with the valve body, and

FIG 4 shows an elevational view of an arrangement which utilizes gearing which makes it possible to intermittently rotate the valve body inside of the valve housing.

In the accompanying drawing there is shown a device intended to be used in a dishwasher and with such a device it is possible to intermittently actuate a water flow from one or more spray arms that are attached to and project radially from a valve housing, with the inside of the housing having cylindrical form. The valve body of the device consists of a detergent container and said container is rotative within the cylindrically formed valve housing and has two partly cylindrical surfaces arranged for close contact with the interior cylindrical surface of the valve housing. Thus the valve body may in some positions become positioned so that the water flow to one or more of the spray arms be cut off.

In FIG. 1 is shown a view of the valve body that serves as a detergent container. The container has the form of a hollow cylinder shut at the top and with two segments removed, thus forming two parallel facial surfaces 100 and 10b.

The container 10 is completely closed with the exception of a lid 11 closing a filling opening 12. There are a number of holes 16 provided in the parallel flattened surfaces 10a and 10b. Through these holes the detergent can pass. The lid 11 is provided with a flange 13 that serves as a holder for a detergent tablet. The hole 12 may be covered by said tablet.

The container 10 serves as a valve body and in FIG. 2 it is shown how said valve body is placed within the valve housing 14. The valve housing 14 can be rotated by suitable drive means not shown and four spray arms 15 are attached to the housing and project radially therefrom. The valve body 10 as shown in FIG. 2 is in such a position that it does not prevent water flow to any of the spray arms 15 and this means that all of the spray arms are in open position. It is obvious that the valve body 10 may be rotatively moved within the valve housing and that such a rotation will cause water flow to two opposite spray arms while the two remaining arms will be closed olf. Water can be entered through the top of the valve housing or at any other selected point thereof.

In FIG. 3 is shown a section through the part of a dishwasher in which a device made according to the present invention is used. The valve housing 14 obtains rotation by a driving device such as shown at 17 in any well known manner. A universal coupling can be located between the drive means 17 and the upper part of the valve housing 14 so that the upper part of the valve housing can tilt.

The valve housing 14 rests upon a bottom plate 25 that rests on a layer of resilient material 26 such as rubber or other elastic substance. Said layer 26 is secured to a base plate 27 by screws or other suitable fastening means.

During rotative movement of the valve housing 14, a gear 21 is also rotated since it is secured to a shaft 21a and this gear 21 is located on the side of the plate 27 opposite to the side at which the valve housing 14 is located. The valve housing 14 and the gear 21 are thus secured to one another by the shaft 21a. Inside of the shaft 21 is another shaft 22, said shaft 22 being secured to a gear 22 and the shaft has a tooth or projection which engages with a recess 18 in the valve body 10. A rotational movement of the valve housing 14 rotates gear 21, the rotation of which is transferred to a gear 24 and a gear 20 (see FIG. 4). The gear 24 is on a shaft 24a carrying a frictional drive wheel 19, and gear 24 carries a segmental gear 24b adapted to intermittently cooperate with gear 22 in order to cause a rotative movement of the valve body 10 relatively to the valve housing 14. In FIG. 4 is shown the preferred shapes of the different gears.

When the valve housing 14 rotates, the valve body 10 rotates with it becuuse the valve body 10 exerts some frictional pressure against the cylindrical inside surface of the housing 14 and thereby is caused a rotation of the gear 21 and the gear 22. The gear 21 drives the larger gear 24 which, by means of the shafi 24a drives the drive wheel 19. This drive wheel 19 has a variable thickness and it is schematically shown in FIG. 3. Because of its variation in thickness, said wheel 19 presses more or less against the part 25 and tends to urge the valve housing toward the plate 27. Because of this, the spray arms 15, extending radkally from the valve housing, will be moved in a vertical direction and thus the water flow from the spray arms will impinge against the dishes at different points because the shafts 21a and 22a will tilt with the valve housing. It is notable however that the movement of the wheel 19 does not necessarily have to be fixed in relation to the rotation of the device. In order to secure a tilting efiect of the housing it is ment 24b and the gear 22 may have their cogs in the form of projecting pins.

The gear 20 is driven by the gear 21 and has the number of cogs required to enable the gear 20 to rotate faster than gear 21. The purpose of this is that a cable or the like may be attached to the gear by a suitable connection. This cable may, at one of its ends, be provided wirh a cleaning device which can be rotated. Such a cable with a cleaning head may be used for cleaning glassware or the like.

It is also possible to permit the valve body to be actuated manually and it is obvious that the container may be constructed with larger cylindrical surfaces than is shown in the present embodiment. It is also suggested that the transmission gearing and associated parts can be enclosed. Depending upon the form of the container the valve body may be so constructed that in one position it will cut off the sater flow to one apray arm. It is also possible to have the spray arms in the valve housing assume the form of a plate, which can be cut into sectors having restricted inlet areas. The spray hole may, in such an arrangement be disposed arbitrarily within the segment.

What I claim is:

1. A device for use in a dishwasher to cause the intermittent water flow to one or a number of spray arms comprising, a valve housing carrying spray arms, a hollow valve contained within the housing, said valve serving as a container for detergent, the valve body being rotatable within the valve housing,

the valve body having some surfaces which conform to the inside surfaces of the valve housing serving when in one position to shut off water flow to at least one spray arm, and the valve body having other surfaces spaced from the inside of the valve housing that permit the flow of water to at least one of the apray arms. Y

2. A device according to claim 1, including means for intermittently rotating the valve body within the valve housing.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the valve housing carries gearing that drives a segmental gear to intermittently 

1. A device for use in a dishwasher to cause the intermittent water flow to one or a number of spray arms comprising, a valve housing carrying spray arms, a hollow valve contained within the housing, said valve serving as a container for detergent, the valve body being rotatable within the valve housing, the valve body having some surfaces which conform to the inside surfaces of the valve housing serving when in one position to shut off water flow to at least one spray arm, and the valve body having other surfaces spaced from the inside of the valve housing that permit the flow of water to at least one of the apray arms.
 2. A device according to claim 1, including means for intermittently rotating the valve body within the valve housing.
 3. A device according to claim 1, wherein the valve housing carries gearing that drives a segmental gear to intermittently rotate the valve body within the valve housing.
 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein the valve housing is cylindrical, the valve body being cylindrical but with flattened opposite faces, said surfaces being perforated for detergent emission, the valve body having a filler opening at the top.
 5. A device according to claim 1, including means for imparting an up and down and tilting movement to the valve housing while the same is in rotation. 